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The Cora Tree Murder: An Outer Banks Mystery
One of the oldest trees on the Outer Banks is an ancient live oak known as the Cora Tree. According to legend, in the early 1700s the townspeople of Frisco, North Carolina accused a strange woman of witchcraft, tied her to the tree and attempted to burn her. Before they could light the match, lightning struck the tree, leaving a heart-shaped hole and the name CORA burned into the bark.
On a training run, Detective Angie Stallone sees a strange woman leaning on the Cora Tree and staring into the heart-shaped hole. Angie learns that the woman calls herself Cora and lives in a old cabin in the Buxton Woods. When a young girl's body is discovered near Cora's cabin, the townspeople and authorities conclude that Cora is the prime suspect. Angie and local bookstore owner, Mee Mee Roberts, team up to prove Cora's innocence. During their investigation they uncover a more diabolical conglomerate responsible for casting the shadow of terror and death on the shores of the Outer Banks.
The Cora Tree Murder is one of ten Outer Banks mystery novels that Joe C. Ellis has written over the last twenty years. The novels have become bestsellers in the bookstores on the Outer Banks and are also available in ebook format on Amazon.com.
On a training run, Detective Angie Stallone sees a strange woman leaning on the Cora Tree and staring into the heart-shaped hole. Angie learns that the woman calls herself Cora and lives in a old cabin in the Buxton Woods. When a young girl's body is discovered near Cora's cabin, the townspeople and authorities conclude that Cora is the prime suspect. Angie and local bookstore owner, Mee Mee Roberts, team up to prove Cora's innocence. During their investigation they uncover a more diabolical conglomerate responsible for casting the shadow of terror and death on the shores of the Outer Banks.
The Cora Tree Murder is one of ten Outer Banks mystery novels that Joe C. Ellis has written over the last twenty years. The novels have become bestsellers in the bookstores on the Outer Banks and are also available in ebook format on Amazon.com.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2024
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Joe C. Ellis
45 books22 followersJoe C. Ellis, a big fan of the North Carolina's Outer Banks, grew up in the Ohio Valley. A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, he attended West Liberty State College in West Virginia and went on to earn his Master's Degree in education from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. After a thirty-six year career as an art teacher, he retired from the Martins Ferry City School District.
Currently, he is the pastor for the Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church and the Colerain Presbyterian Church.
His writing career began in 2001 with the publication of his first novel, The Healing Place. In 2007 he began the Outer Banks Murder Series with the publication of Murder at Whalehead (2010), Murder at Hatteras (2011), Murder on the Outer Banks (2012), Murder at Ocracoke (2017), The Treasure of Portsmouth Island (2019), and Roanoke Island Murders (2020)
Joe credits family vacations on the Outer Banks with the inspiration for these stories. Joe and his wife, Judy, have three children and five grandsons. Although the kids have flown the nest, they get together often and always make it a priority to vacation on the Outer Banks whenever possible. He comments, "It's a place on the edge of the world, a place of great beauty and sometimes danger--the ideal setting for murder mysteries."
Currently, he is the pastor for the Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church and the Colerain Presbyterian Church.
His writing career began in 2001 with the publication of his first novel, The Healing Place. In 2007 he began the Outer Banks Murder Series with the publication of Murder at Whalehead (2010), Murder at Hatteras (2011), Murder on the Outer Banks (2012), Murder at Ocracoke (2017), The Treasure of Portsmouth Island (2019), and Roanoke Island Murders (2020)
Joe credits family vacations on the Outer Banks with the inspiration for these stories. Joe and his wife, Judy, have three children and five grandsons. Although the kids have flown the nest, they get together often and always make it a priority to vacation on the Outer Banks whenever possible. He comments, "It's a place on the edge of the world, a place of great beauty and sometimes danger--the ideal setting for murder mysteries."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 7, 2025
I get that this is likely a book that has a regional rather than a national appeal per se. I have been aware of this series of mysteries set in the Outer Banks, NC for some time now, having vacationed there for 36 years, and having had the pleasure of visiting Buxton Village Books for possibly half of them. I succumbed on this visit, entering the series not at the start, but rather with this title, as I have a COVID puppy named Coraline, or Cora for short. I was on a quest to name the new puppy after a literary character, and the hubs and son were distracted by the fact that NY was a week away from shutting down, and wanted Corona, which morphed to Corolla, and then I came up with the literary reference to Neil Gaiman, and it was an acceptable compromise. Have we been to the tree yet? No. We thought this would be the year, but left it to the last minute. Maybe 2026. The mystery on its own was engaging, the characters fun, especially that Mee Mee lady saying all kinds of things I can’t imagine her saying in real life, but TBH, the real thrill is reading a book where you know every local reference, and can visualize the book unfolding like a movie in your head. Thank you Joe Ellis for sending me back to NNY with another piece of the OBX to hold on to!
October 6, 2024
Loved the narration of Susan Marlowe
Detective Angie Stallone finds herself, with Mee Mee Roberts fighting to save a woman called Cora. Who is being accused of murder of a seventeen year old girl. Cora lives in the woods and her beliefs are white magic. The town belief Cora is guilty . Throw in drug deals and the cartel.
This book is full of suspense, angst, action and mystery. An excellent listen.
Detective Angie Stallone finds herself, with Mee Mee Roberts fighting to save a woman called Cora. Who is being accused of murder of a seventeen year old girl. Cora lives in the woods and her beliefs are white magic. The town belief Cora is guilty . Throw in drug deals and the cartel.
This book is full of suspense, angst, action and mystery. An excellent listen.
August 12, 2024
Read This Book
This was the best book, IMHO, of the Outer Banks mystery series. It blends relationships with suspense, intrigue, a bit of whimsy, and of course...murder. I couldn't put it down.
This was the best book, IMHO, of the Outer Banks mystery series. It blends relationships with suspense, intrigue, a bit of whimsy, and of course...murder. I couldn't put it down.
August 18, 2024
awesome read
I have read all of the Joe Ellis books and each one is just as good as the last one, this one was very enjoyable and great read. The characters are cool. Mee Mee is a rockstar and is a great partner for Angie. I highly recommend this book and all of them
I have read all of the Joe Ellis books and each one is just as good as the last one, this one was very enjoyable and great read. The characters are cool. Mee Mee is a rockstar and is a great partner for Angie. I highly recommend this book and all of them
August 11, 2024
Another excellent read by Joe Ellis. Draws one in, in a hurry, and doesn't let you go.
The twist and turns adds to the excitement of the story. I always can't wait for Joe's next story to be released.
Milton Winslow
(Read on Brenda's Kindle Account)
The twist and turns adds to the excitement of the story. I always can't wait for Joe's next story to be released.
Milton Winslow
(Read on Brenda's Kindle Account)
October 16, 2024
Excellent Book
I’ve never been to the Outter Banks but I could envision the scene perfectly. The first I’ve read of Joe C Ellis and looking forward to reading more!!
I’ve never been to the Outter Banks but I could envision the scene perfectly. The first I’ve read of Joe C Ellis and looking forward to reading more!!
August 24, 2024
Another good one Joe!!
I have enjoyed reading Joes books ever since I found them while vacationing in OBX. This book was a fast enjoyable read. I wish I was reading it while in our favorite vacation spot in Hatteras. Joe made me feel like was there with the characters going through the familiar town.
I have enjoyed reading Joes books ever since I found them while vacationing in OBX. This book was a fast enjoyable read. I wish I was reading it while in our favorite vacation spot in Hatteras. Joe made me feel like was there with the characters going through the familiar town.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews